Artists

I was born in the 1970’s and so grew up in an unprecedented societal and cultural environment. When I was young, the heroes of revolution lived firmly in my heart, in the ‘80s they were substituted by Bruce Lee, Jin Yong’s kung fu novels and other heroic pop culture icons. I eventually realized that this was a kind of love-hate instinct and a type of self-education. Actually, back then we needed to be self-taught; any enlightenment we were able to garner from school or from our surroundings was modest. Besides, at that time, our thirst for culture could only be interpreted through the clamour of Taiwanese and Hong Kong imports.

In kung fu movies, the eye-boggling wrestling maneuvers and the unparalleled skills of the martial arts give the viewer a sense of satisfaction for the victor. But, gradually growing tired of focusing on only the winner, I realized that when two sides are intertwined in battle there exists a subtle relationship hidden between them. In the clash between bodies there are multiple layers of metaphor containing the arcane truths of ancient Chinese society.

This was my inspiration for beginning a new series of works in 2003. In this series I depict people; they are lacking the characteristics of any one era, and have no concrete or complete shape, taking a fragmented perspective. These figures are able to use ingenious methods to control their opponents and to achieve their personal goals. The movements of the characters in the paintings originate from traditional Chinese kung fu. These battle techniques and methods of subduing one’s opponent were produced during China’s lengthy process of development. Even a hundred years ago, these methods were the primary methods of defense and offensive strategy; they are one of Chinese culture’s most important elements. Viewed from another angle, they are a system of reasoning for realising ideas and for strategic problem solving.

In painting, I choose a set of very traditional techniques. I like details - that is part of my character. Everything I express has happened in the blink of an eye, but I will use a month’s worth of time to describe that moment. Like telling a story to the greatest truth, I recall every detail to its fullest, most accurate description. I try my best to make everything seem very still, harmonious and beautiful. Although this at times contradicts the contents of what I want to express, it seems that these kind of oppositions are exactly what are transpiring all around us.

Zhao Fang
2006